(ANS – Luanda) – Fr Santiago Boix, a Salesian from Uruguay, received his missionary mandate on 25 September, but since 2009 he has already been on the missions in Angola, in the capital. Now he has returned and speaks about some of the experiences from which he has benefited.

He was sent to one of the poorest and most violent districts in Luanda, which not by accident is called “Lixeira” (rubbish). However he could see further that what appeared at first sight: “When missionaries from Africa are asked to talk about their mission often they only speak about what we do, the poverty, the hardships... I want to start with something different that could be called ‘The school of life.”

He learned several lessons at this school. The first as soon as he arrived. The youngsters invited him onto the basketball court and said they wanted him to do something for them. “At once I thought they wanted a new ball or a coach,” Fr Boix admits, “But no! They said:: ‘We need a spiritual director, someone to be with us and strengthen our faith, and we want you to do that.’ So I learned my first lesson: the first place in the heart belongs to God, and my mission was to accompany the youngsters in the footsteps of Jesus. The rest was secondary.”

The second happened just afterwards when some youth leaders came back sad from their work because they had been sent away from a white household at meal time. “I understood that in this school there was always a place for one more person, or two or ten! A family is much more than ties of blood, or other links... solidarity, hospitality, taking care of each other are natural things which unfortunately in our  culture, we have forgotten because we are hemmed in by closed gates and alarms. This was a lesson about solidarity among the poor, the friends of Jesus .”

The third, among many others was about the use of time. On one occasion a woman came to ask Fr Boix to bless her sick son at home. Fr Boix had several other engagements but accepted because the woman said her house was quite close. “In fact it was along way off, but only for me, who was so worried about my various occupations  and not about charity. After a long time we finally arrived. We prayed and it was a beautiful experience. Then we went from one house to another, and then another. I learned that  Jesus needs to be cared for in the sick (...) and that very often we chase after what is not really important.”

“Lixeira, is a great school of life,” Fr Boix says, “where God is present in a very clear way, and I think that many people are holy, especially young people even though they will never be declared saints. (...) So in this school I am learning that few things in life are really essential, that happiness can be found in small things , or better, in one thing only: Jesus Christ. I knew it before, but now here among the “rubbish” with them I feel, and experience and benefit from it as long as God will allow me to.”

On ANSChannel there is a video in which the missionary tells the story of his vocation.

Published 25/10/2011